• 11 Aug 2022

Nitish Kumar Became Chief Minister of Bihar for the Eighth Time

Why in News?

• On August 10, 2022, Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Nitish Kumar took the oath of office and secrecy as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the eighth time. Governor Fagu Chauhan administered the oath to him.

Key Points

• Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister. It is worth mentioning that Nitish Kumar has taken oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the eighth time while Tejashwi Yadav has taken oath for the second time as the Deputy Chief Minister.
• On August 9, 2022, after the split of Janata Dal United from the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, Nitish Kumar was unanimously elected the leader of the Grand Alliance in a joint meeting of Janata Dal United, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress. After this, Nitish Kumar met Governor Fagu Chauhan and submitted a claim to form a new government.
• He submitted the list of support from 164 MLAs of seven parties to the Governor. These include Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, Hindustani Awam Morcha, Left parties and an independent MLA.
• Significantly, on March 3, 2000, Nitish Kumar became the Chief Minister of Bihar for the first time. After that from 2005 to 2010, from 2010 to 2014, again in the year 2015, from 2015 to 2017, from 2017 to 2020, from 2020 to August 8, 2022 and again in 2022, now he has become the Chief Minister for the 8th time.

Rajasthan First in the Whole Country in Linking Aadhaar Number with Voter ID

Why in News?

• On August 10, 2022, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta informed that Rajasthan ranks first in the entire country in the campaign to link voter ID with Aadhaar number. So far, voter ID card (Voter ID) has been linked with Aadhaar card by more than 55 lakh voters in the state.

Key Points

• Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that in the campaign that started from August 1, so far 2 crore 52 lakh voter ID cards have been linked with Aadhar card across the country. Out of which 55 lakh 86 thousand 710 voters have linked their Aadhar card with voter ID card in the state.
• He informed that a special campaign is being run for this in the state from CEO to BLO.
• Taking an innovative initiative by the Election Department hands on information is being given about linking voter ID card with Aadhaar number through Voter Helpline App in all the District Election Officers, EROs, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) of the state, in government, non-government, private offices, institutions, colleges, schools.
• It is noteworthy that under this campaign, which started on the instructions of the Election Commission of India from August 1, now every voter can link his Aadhaar number with his voter ID card to establish his identity. For this a new Form 6-B can be filled. Aadhaar number linking can be done through National Voter Service Portal (NVSP), Voter Helpline App, Garuda App or even through BLO of the area.

Inauguration of 'Shaurya Kala Pradarshani'

Why in News?

• On August 9, 2022, Governor of Rajasthan Kalraj Mishra inaugurated the 'Shaurya Kala Pradarshani' at Jawahar Kala Kendra. This art exhibition will run till August 20, 2022.

Key Points

• This exhibition has been organized under the three-day 'Rang Swadhin' function of the West Zone Cultural Arts Center.
• In the series of programs under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, in this exhibition, pictures of freedom fighters, their lives and important events related to the freedom struggle have been preserved in the form of attractive artefacts.
• It is worth mentioning that Shaurya Kala Shivir was organized by the West Zone Cultural Center during the Covid period, in which artefacts based on the freedom struggle and freedom fighters were created by artists from across the country.
• The Governor also released an album of Mandana artefacts prepared by the Center and 'Panchtantra Katha Manjari' on the occasion.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that the valor saga of the freedom fighters has been displayed here in a very beautiful way through pictures. The young generation will get inspiration from these pictures to know about the great personalities who made invaluable contribution for the country's independence.

Formation of Mukhyamantri Nari Samman Kosh, Approval to Mukhyamantri Baal Ashirwad Scheme

Why in News?

• In the meeting of the Council of Ministers held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on August 10, 2022, strengthening the Madhya Pradesh Women's Finance and Development Corporation, making a separate budget line for establishment expenditure, formation of Chief Minister Nari Samman Kosh in the corporation and its Under the Mukhyamantri Udyami Shakti Yojana, approval was given.

Key Points

• In 'Mukhyamantri Udyami Shakti Yojana', 2% interest subvention will be given on the cases approved from banks of the women beneficiaries of 'State Rural Livelihood Mission' and 'National Urban Livelihood Mission', 'Chief Minister Udyam Kranti Yojana' and 'Mukhya Mantri Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana'.
• The cabinet approved setting up of project management unit in SRLM/NULM and project cell in the corporation to establish marketing system and backward and forward linkage of the products of women entrepreneurs funded by the above schemes.
• To bring the Tejaswini groups formed by the Corporation into the Livelihood Mission fold, out of the amount available in the Tejaswini program, it was approved to give Rs.10 crore to the Rural Livelihood Mission.
• The cabinet decided to implement the 'Mukhyamantri Bal Ashirwad Yojana'.
• Under this scheme, care leavers (after care) above the age of 18 years leaving child care institutions and orphans up to the age of 18 years living with relatives or guardians will be given financial assistance (sponsorship). .
• Under this scheme, care leavers will be given Rs. 5 thousand per month for a maximum period of one year at the time of internship and Rs. 5000 per month for a maximum period of 2 years on completion of vocational training.
• Also, care leavers who enter the course through NEET, JEE or CLAT will be given Rs 5000 per month for their livelihood expenses.
• All financial assistance for education or internship or vocational training in after care will be given for the stipulated time period or till the age of 24 years, whichever is earlier.
• Under the sponsorship, financial assistance of Rs 2,000 will be given in the joint account of the legal guardian of the eligible children for a minimum period of one year and up to a maximum of 18 years and medical assistance under 'Ayushman Yojana'. In this way, efforts will be made to restore the orphan children in the society by giving financial and educational support.
• The cabinet decided to continue the scheme of giving short term crop loans to farmers at zero percent interest rate in 2022-23.
• This loan is given to the farmers from cooperative banks/Primary Agricultural Credit Co-operative Societies (PACS).
• The base rate for the year 2022-23 in the scheme will be 10 percent. The due date for Kharif 2022 season will be March 28, 2023 and for Rabi 2022-23 season the due date will be June 15, 2023.
• 3% (general) interest subvention for all farmers taking short-term crop loans in Kharif and Rabi season under the prescribed base rate of 10 percent and an additional interest subsidy of 4 percent to the farmers who repay the loan by the due date will be given by the state government as an incentive.
• This scheme is applicable from the year 2012-13. In this, the state government provides interest subvention on short term crop loans up to Rs 3 lakh.

2G Ethanol Plant in Panipat

Why in News?

• On the occasion of World Biofuel Day on August 10, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the second generation (2G) ethanol plant at Panipat, Haryana to the nation through video conference.

Key Points

• The commissioning of the plant is part of a long series of steps taken by the government over the years to promote the production and use of biofuels in the country. This is in line with the Prime Minister's constant endeavor to make the energy sector more affordable, accessible, efficient and sustainable.
• The 2G Ethanol Plant has been constructed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) at an estimated cost of around Rs 900 crore and is located close to Panipat Refinery.
• Based on state-of-the-art indigenous technology, this project is a new addition to India's 'Waste to Wealth' (Waste to Wealth) efforts by using about 2 lakh tonnes of rice straw (parali) annually to produce around 30 million liters of ethanol annually.
• The ethanol produced from this plant will be blended with motor spirit (petrol) to meet the Government of India's target of 20 percent Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit (EBMS).
• With the creation of end use for agro-crop residues, farmers will be empowered and they will get an opportunity to get additional income. This project will provide direct employment to the people involved in the operation of this plant and indirect jobs will be created in the supply chain for rice straw cutting, handling, storage etc.
• No fluid will leak out in the project. By reducing stubble burning, the project will reduce greenhouse gases equivalent to about 3 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, which can be equated to the removal of about 63,000 cars annually on the country's roads.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that with the establishment of this modern plant, stubble would become a source of additional income for the farmers of Haryana, where rice and wheat are grown in abundance. This plant will reduce pollution in Delhi, Haryana and NCR.

Uttarakhand to Implement New Tourism Policy

Why in News?

• On August 10, 2022, Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said that the government would soon implement a new policy to promote investment in the tourism sector in the state. For this, a draft of a new tourism policy is being prepared by the department.

Key Points

• Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said that soon the policy will be finalized and placed in the cabinet for approval after passing it from the Tourism Development Council. In this policy, the government will give more investment incentives to the investors than MSMEs. This will also give a boost to winter tourism activities in the state in the coming times.
• In the new policy, on the lines of tourism policy of Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, there will be a provision to give more incentive to the investors in Uttarakhand. Through which investment will be encouraged by the government in infrastructure development for five star hotels, restaurants, adventure tourism.
• So far, on the lines of MSME industries, the government is giving investment incentives of one to 1.5 crores to tourism industries, whereas investors are showing less interest in Uttarakhand due to more incentives to tourism industries in other states due to which the government is going to attract investors by increasing the incentive amount in the new policy.
• In the new tourism policy, the investment incentive amount can be increased from 1.5 crore to two crore. Apart from this, provision will be made for increasing inter subsidy from 15 to 30 percent, exemption in SGST for up to five years, additional grant money for construction of buildings based on local architecture.
• Women entrepreneurs in the tourism sector can get separate incentives. Incentives will be given to those investing in adventure tourism like bungee jumping, paragliding, camping etc.
• Provision will be made to provide additional relief to investors for sewerage system, solar energy in hotel business.
• The state government has received 1116 investment proposals in the tourism sector, with an investment of about Rs 5122 crore. This is likely to provide employment to more than 19 thousand people.
• The government believes that with the formation of the new policy, investment in the tourism sector in the state will accelerate. This will provide employment opportunities to the local people. Along with this, the revenue of the government from the service sector will also increase.
• It is noteworthy that tourism policy was implemented in Uttarakhand in 2019 by giving industry status to tourism. In which incentives were also arranged for tourism industries under MSME, Mega Industrial Policy.
• On the lines of manufacturing industry, tourism industries will get 10 percent or maximum 1.5 crore rupees in hilly areas, 10 percent or maximum one crore rupees in plain areas, one rupee per unit in electricity bills. Reimbursement and exemption of electricity duty for five years is given.

Government to Re-create Workers' Board in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

• On August 10, 2022, Uttarakhand Labor Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram informed that the state government is preparing to re-constitute the Uttarakhand Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

Key Points

• The Labor Secretary said that due to the dissolution of the Workers' Board, new welfare schemes are not being started for the workers. Since, the decision on these is taken by the board itself, so the government is preparing for the formation of the board again.
• At present, the workers are getting the benefits of old schemes in the board, but no new scheme is being made for their welfare. After the formation of the board again, about 4.5 lakh workers will start getting new gifts.
• It is worth mentioning that in the year 2017, Labor Minister Dr. Harak Singh Rawat was looking after the responsibility of the chairman of the board. On the instructions of the then Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, in October 2020, the government removed Harak Singh Rawat from the post of chairman and formed a new board under the chairmanship of Shamsher Singh Satyal.
• Satyal was removed by the current Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, re-dissolving the board on September 30, 2021. Since then the Board is being operated with the Labor Secretary as the ex-officio Chairman.